Ella Fitzgerald was the first lady of song, but this Ella is known as the first lady of children's music, with an equally lengthy career. Enthusiastic children join her on 12 wonderful songs in a variety of styles, including blues ("Freight Train Blues"), folk ("This Train"), work songs ("Don't You Do Me Wrong"), Greek music ("Tee-kah-nees"), R&B ("You Look So Sweet"), and a little bit of rock 'n' roll ("Go, Aquanetta, Go"). Jenkins' baritone ukulele, drums, harmonica, guitar, and rhythm sticks are the icing on the cake. "From one era to another, children change like clothes, like slogans change," Jenkins told the Washington Post. "But there are some basic things that are the same. It depends on how we relate to children, if we don't destroy the imagination they already have…. It's good we have technology, but I think if we expose children to too much of that, these children might just be viewers, imitators and not creators."

The folk music archives that form the wellspring of these Smithsonian recordings are truly incomparable. Encompassing a wide variety of styles, they reflect the heart, soul, and backbone of the American experience as well as indigenous music from around the world. Folkways' impeccable sound and documentation does these artists proud, setting their work off as the treasure it is.